‘Indecent’ bares first; ‘Joon’ spoons $ 3.4 mil

The weekend box office was very “Indecent” for a second week. With Paramount estimating $ 15.5 million on its “Proposal,” the film was doing triple the business of its closest competitor.

However, it was not all bad news for the rest of the pack. Fox’s “The Sandlot ,” finishing second, saw revenues jump the second weekend to $ 5.1 mil and MGM’s debut of “Benny & Joon” got off to a rousing fifth-place of $ 3.4 million on just 408 screens.

“Indecent Exposure” continues to be big news, holding remarkably well with a mere 16% slippage. It’s $ 15.5 mil weekend translated to averages of $ 8,390 from 1,847 playdates. After 12 days of release, it has accrued $ 47.8 mil.

But how much can the marketplace bare? “The picture has definitely hit a social nerve,” said Paramount motion picture group president Barry London. “You always hope people will be talking about your picture and that’s definitely happening. We’re very optimistic.”

London declined to say how upbeat but a rival likened the film’s potential to “Basic Instinct” which earned almost $ 120 mil domestically. “There’s just nothing else in its path,” he said.

In second was Fox’s “The Sandlot” with approximately $ 5.1 mil. Yet, the tyke baseballers demonstrated true grit with a 5% box office boost emerging from 1, 775 bullpens. Averaging $ 2,870 per swing, it has a cume of $ 12.1 mil.

Following Easter/Passover holidays, business held well with a slight 5% drop from the prior frame. On a strict calendar basis, revenues were down 11% from a year ago but up 11% for the comparable weekend of 1992.

Enthusiasm was palpable at MGM with the $ 3.4 million finish of “Benny & Joon.” The offbeat romantic comedy was doing near capacity business in 408 situations for dynamic averages of $ 8,330.

Also new was Triumph Releasing’s pint sized martial arts “Sidekicks” with about $ 500,000. The film test marketed in Texas last weekend, expanding to 150 matches on Friday. Its $ 3,330 averages were encouraging but indications are for strong initial weeks only.

Cannon’s “No Place to Hide” thriller debuted with $ 91,000 from 215 engagements. That amounted to averages of $ 420.

WBs’ 20th anni single screen reissue of “Blazing Saddles” didn’t benefit from “Unforgiven’s” dust. The $ 6,500 gross miscalculation was bettered by the fact it’s only been 19 years since the Mel Brooks spoof debuted.

On the beat in fourth slot was Universal’s “Cop & a Half” with an estimated $ 3.5 mil. Burt and the brat averaged $ 1,950 from 1,794 precincts. Down 21% for the weekend, the film’s cume is $ 18.1 mil.

Speaking of kids, down the list at 16th Disney’s “Aladdin” was going strong at about $ 850,000. The good news is that it makes the animated wonder 1993’s first film to cross the $ 100 mil with $ 100.8 earned since Jan. 1. It’s still shy of $ 200 mil by about $ 200,000.